N. CHARLESTON, S.C. – The VMI Keydets scored three runs in the final two innings and put the tying runs on base in the ninth, but could not complete the comeback as the Charleston Southern Buccaneers prevailed, 6-4, in the second game of a Big South baseball doubleheader Saturday in North Charleston, S.C.
With the Keydets (18-20, 5-6 Big South) trailing 6-2, pinch-hitter Matt Winn led off the ninth with a single, extending his hitting streak to 13 games. Pinch-runner Ray Lopez promptly stole second and Drew Bryan followed with a single. Jordan Tarsovich drove Lopez home with a fielder's choice, and Will Connerley followed with a bunt attempt up the third base line.
CSU (13-22, 4-7 BSC) third baseman Jaren Sustar made a charging, barehanded scoop of the attempt and threw on the run to retire Connerley for the second out, but Rob Dickinson followed with a single to center, scoring Tarsovich to cut the deficit to 6-4. Cody Holder then singled to put the tying run on first, but reliever Andrew Tomasovich retired pinch-hitter Cameron Walter on a first-pitch fly ball to right field, ending the game.
Offensively, Bryan and Dickinson had two hits apiece for the Keydets, and Dickinson's sixth-inning single moved him past A.J. Yoder '09 for fourth on VMI's all-time hit list. Dickinson also moved into the top five in career total bases during Saturday's doubleheader.
Campbell Henkel took the loss for the Keydets, as the starter fell to 1-4 after allowing six runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. The Keydet bullpen allowed for a comeback, however, as Miles McQuaig, Jonathan Kelley and Micah Gorman allowed just one hit and one walk over the final 3 2/3 innings. Ryan Gunther (4-4) got the win for CSU, allowing just an unearned run in seven innings and striking out ten, while Andrew Tomasovich picked up his first career save.
CSU jumped ahead in the first against Henkel, as Kevin Hickey led off with a walk and moved to second on a infield out. One out later, Zack Hagaman singled him home to give the Bucs a 1-0 lead.
The Keydets fired back in the second, when Red Dowdell led off with a single that was misplayed in left field by Brian Welch, allowing the Keydet freshman to take an extra base. Brandon Angus then laid down a sacrifice bunt and Gunther uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Dowdell to score and tie the game, 1-1.
CSU took the lead for good in the third, however, when Welch plated two with a single up the middle. A two-run home run by Bobby Ison in the fourth pushed that margin to 5-1, and the Bucs capped their scoring in the fifth on a Welch RBI double that knocked Henkel from the game.
The Keydets tried to mount a rally in the sixth, when Connerley and Dickinson had back to back singles to open the inning. Holder then struck out and Dowdell flied out before Gunther threw his second wild pitch of the game, putting runners at second and third. Angus worked a walk on a 3-2 pitch, but Nick Dwyer struck out looking to end the threat.
VMI got back on the scoreboard in the eighth, when Dickinson reached on an error to open the frame. One out later, Dowdell hit a ground ball up the middle that was booted by Alex Tomasovich, allowing both runners to reach safely. A wild pitch moved Dowdell and Dickinson up one base apiece, and Angus plated one run with an infield out. Dwyer struck out, however, to end the inning. Kelley and Gorman then faced the minimum three in the ninth, setting up the final inning drama.
With the win in game one and the loss in game two of today's doubleheader, the Keydets broke a trend in which they had lost the first game and won the second contest in each of their previous four twinbills this season.
VMI baseball will return to action Sunday, as the Keydets and Charleston Southern face off in the finale of the three-game series. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
